UK Digital Switch Delayed

United Kingdom Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, in a progress report on the digital switchover , said that 2012 "may be the most appropriate date for the completion of switchover." Some broadcasters, including the BBC, suggested this date. Based on the 2012 date, the switching sequence could start as early as 2007. Jow

United Kingdom Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, in a progress report on the digital switchover, said that 2012 "may be the most appropriate date for the completion of switchover." Some broadcasters, including the BBC, suggested this date. Based on the 2012 date, the switching sequence could start as early as 2007. Jowell said that the government is proceeding with a technical trial to switch two villages -- Ferryside and Llansteffan -- to digital only broadcasting, noting, "The residents have responded overwhelmingly in favour of taking part in this trial. If, as we expect, this switchover trial is successful, this community will be the first in the UK to go fully digital next spring."

According to last week's progress report, while the Government believes the earliest possible switcher remains desirable and will provide advantages to consumers and broadcasters, it is concerned that the "final decision on timetable should balance these benefits against the need to ensure that the interests of the most vulnerable consumers are protected."

According to a BBC News article last week on the DTV transition in the U.K., the country's media regulator Ofcom says the U.K. can only be fully digital by the government's 2012 target date if it switches over region by region and if the switchover begins in 2008. The BBC article includes a timetable for the switchov

Last week, at the Royal Television Society conference in Cambridge, England, Tessa Jowell, United Kingdom culture secretary, announced the formal timetable for U.K.'s analog to digital switchover. Viewers on the English-Scottish border will lose analog TV in three years, followed by West Country, HTV Wales and Granada

"Responsibility for providing older people with sound, practical advice lies with Government, the voluntary sector and the private sector - they all must work closely with Digital UK to ensure that older people aren't confused."